<p>Hello, I am new to this site and wish to solicit your advice on my current performance as a high school junior. I recently took the SAT at the beginning of December and earned a 1650 (550 in Reading portion; 480 in Math- yikes; 620 in writing, with an 8 on the essay). My GPA as of last year was a 3.667 (without taking an AP courses), and I am currently earning a C+ in an AP English Language course I'm taking as a junior, which will seriously lower my GPA by a couple of points. I am worried because this C may bring my GPA down to a 3.33 (a B+ average; not good at all) and lower my class rank dramatically. I know my SAT scores are probably not that great either, by Ivy league standards...</p>
<p>Is there any possible chance I will get accepted to a good university in the future? Is my SAT score really that deplorable (knowing that 1400-1500 is around the national average)? Does this SAT score mean that I'm not as intelligent as I thought I was (as stupid as asking that sounds...)?</p>
<p>Please, do not be rude or disrespectful when you respond to this thread; I will not tolerate any snobbery or pretentiousness and really would appreciate it if people would refrain from comparing their scores/ranks/GPAs to mine. I will appreciate any advice I receive, and do not mean to sound rude by this.</p>
<p>Thank you for your response! My aim wasn’t at applying for Harvard (my GPA and SAT scores are definitely not up to there standards), but since you are mentioning there are many good universities that would still accept me with my grades and test results, what schools are you trying to describe? Additionally, would a 1650 be considered bad by most university standards or good?</p>
<p>Make an appt w/your guid counselor and ask him/her where other graduating seniors, with similar stats have gotten acceptances. He/she can give you a good list to start from likely. Good luck</p>
<p>In my state, the two flagship universities would both accept you with that combination of grades and SAT scores.</p>
<p>Most public universities are going to care more about the 1030 CR+M, and less about the writing component. It’s about 54th percentile for college-bound seniors.</p>
<p>Try taking the ACT to see if it suits you better. Some kids do better on one than the other.
Standardized tests don’t come naturally to everyone. Most kids need to either take an SAT prep class or buy an online program or a SAT prep book and WORK at it.
Since you are a junior, you have time to to do this and retake the test after some prep work.
I think you should start on this right away:
-sign up for the next ACT
-get an SAT prep program and start working on it
-If your ACT scores looks good, then abandon SAT prep and focus on ACT prep
-take another round of testing in May or June
-if your scores are still low, study over the summer and take them again in the fall</p>
<p>Above all else, keep your grades up! Work with your teacher on improving that C+.
Work with your guidance counselor on finding the right schools for you.</p>
<p>Your SAT score is not an issue at this time. You have months to study for it, take practice tests, possible take a prep class etc. take time to do at least some of that and re-take it in the spring. Then do it again in the fall. Generally scores rise between junior and senior year. You need to get theEnglish grade up, but there is half a year left. That too can be done. Time to develop a plan to do both.
As to where you could get in, I agree, talk to your GC after break. Think about what you might want to study, whether you want a big or small school, a city or more rural environment and what your parents can afford (talk to them, do not assume!). That will give you a basis from which to start the conversation.
Good luck!</p>
<p>Considering that you’re a first semester junior, you haven’t lost all hope yet. Judging by the fact that you mentioned the Ivy leagues, it seems as though you are looking at top-20ish colleges correct? The first thing you have to do is get your SAT up, period. Although you may be at the national average, that SAT score will not get you anywhere close to any school in the top 20. In my opinion, the SAT is an IQ test, but with possible bracket of improvement. Its just something that you have to get done. Also start studying for SAT2s, I suggest you take subject tests on subjects that you did badly in, to show adcoms that you still know your stuff. Also, assuming that your first semester isn’t over yet, go ask your teachers for extra credit or work to bring up that average, and start working harder second semester to bring up your GPA. Although your sophomore year grades will hurt, it own’t hurt as badly as a bad junior year, and as long as your RANK is high enough, they’ll more or less ignore the actual number. SAT comes with practice, just keep at it and you’ll eventually get better, and colleges will like the dramatic improvement from your previous score. You probably can’t get into Harvard, but if you play your cards right, I think you have a shot at other good colleges.</p>